Intel Core i7-980X vs Intel Core i7-930

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-980X and Intel Core i7-930 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i7-980X

Intel Core i7-930

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 18% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1524 vs 1266
2.3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6835 vs 2978
Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 628 vs 492
Around 76% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 1965

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 8192 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1524 vs 1266
PassMark - CPU mark	6835 vs 2978
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628 vs 492
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462 vs 1965

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-930

7.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 12.91 vs 1.652
Around 28% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 61.833 vs 48.42
Around 2% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.989 vs 1.942
Around 54% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 11.177 vs 7.262

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	12.91 vs 1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	61.833 vs 48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.989 vs 1.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	11.177 vs 7.262

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-980X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-930

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1524

1266

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6835

2978

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

628

492

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3462

1965

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.652

12.91

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

48.42

61.833

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.942

1.989

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.262

11.177

Name	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Core i7-930
PassMark - Single thread mark	1524	1266
PassMark - CPU mark	6835	2978
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	628	492
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462	1965
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.652	12.91
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	48.42	61.833
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942	1.989
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262	11.177

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-980X	Intel Core i7-930
Essentials
Architecture codename	Gulftown	Bloomfield
Launch date	March 2010	February 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$959	$80
Place in performance rating	2597	2616
Price now	$218.99	$59.99
Processor Number	i7-980X	i7-930
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	11.82	25.26
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.33 GHz	2.80 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI	4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size	239 mm2	263 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	1	1
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	1170 million	731 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range	0.800V-1.375V	0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	3	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066	DDR3 800/1066
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	42.5mm X 45.0mm	42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1366	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)